Half sovereign

[Guest Diego Ruiz]

Hi all

Please could some one give me some information on this coin. I've checked the internet but cannot find a coin the same.

The coin is gold it is 19mm diameter and has queen Victoria jubilee head on one side and shielded back with date of 1898 on reverse. I've check and been informed that this coin was only minted till 1893 and then reverse was changed.

I'd appreciate some light on this. Thanks a lot.

[Sylvester]

Fake more than likely.

[Guest Diego Ruiz]

Hi Is it possible it could be a mint error? The coin seems to me very 'perfect' for a fake.

Thanks

[Sylvester]

Well it'd be a very unusual mint error and i've never come across one of these dated like that before.

Are you certain it says 1898 (and not say 1888?). The only way i could tell you if you've got an error or a fake would be to see a picture. Sometimes fakes are very good though. Sovereigns and half sovereigns have been some of the most faked coins in the World, alot came from the Middle East in the middle of the last century. Many are made in gold of the correct fineness and weight, the collector's premium often made it profitable to actually make them full weight using real gold.

So even as a fake it might still have bullion value but no collector value. But as i say a photo would be needed.

[Guest Diego Ruiz]

Hi

I cant seem to be able to upload the scans of the coins. Would please advice.....pleeasee

Thanks a lot

[Chris Perkins]

You have to register, just to basically confirm your email address in case you're a Russian spammer, which evidently you are not. You won't get anything unsolicitored ever.

Once registered a thing to attach a file (i.e. the image) will appear under the new post text.

[Guest chambers]

Hi Thanks for the info. I an finally able to send the scan for you review

Thanks again for your time

[Chris Perkins]

Other side?

[Sylvester]

Hmm odd. I reserve further judgement until i see the other side.

[Sylvester]

Although i can't resist saying, there is alot of mint bloom don't you think? Design (ignoring the date) is pretty spot on.

[Chris Perkins]

Yes, obviously it's a modern copy, but I too am interested in seeing how well the jubilee head is rendered.

[Guest chambers]

Hi all

Here's the other side of the coin.

Thanks

[Sylvester]

Not bad at all, but the eyes and mouth bear a close resemblence to George III!

[Chris Perkins]

They do don't they!

The busts usually are the thing that most forgers have the most trouble with because they are always done by really rather good artists and copying them is obviously a problem.

The coin is not really Victorian, it's probably modern so you'll have to test the gold purity, get it weighed and it'll be worth bullion value.

[Geordie582]

Just wondering! How do you know it IS gold.? I don't think forgers are that scrupulous?!?

[Chris Perkins]

They usually are, because most people know the feel of gold when they feel it. It could also be something gold plated, but a weight check should confirm it is some kind of gold.

[Guest chambers]

I've had it weight and it weighs 3.8 grams.

What baffles me is the date.

Why would anyone forging a coin want to change the date to a date that never existed with that particular design?

I think that would make it more difficult to forge and also to pass it on as a genuine coin.

[Gary D]

It could be a modern copy that is just filling a date gap. There are many fantasy coins on ebay, the 1933 penny for instance.

[Chris Perkins]

No it's not a fantasy one because all the Widow head sovs/half sovs are easy, as are most of the Jubilee heads.

It's just like the Chinese made 1877 Elizabeth II Jubilee crown. I think they just give them impossible dates to make them obviously fake and possibly to avoid prosecution. 3.8g is a bit light, it should be more like 3.98.